The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has said that Chairpersons of Committees cannot be summoned by Commissions of Inquiry or any other investigators individually. This follows a concern raised by Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Sekikubo during a sitting of parliament. Sekikubo said that the media was awash with stories that the current and former Chairpersons of the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) had been summoned to appear before the Commission of Inquiry investigating the Uganda National Roads Authority(UNRA).
Sekikubo wondered how the members were being summoned to appear for the work entrusted to them by this House; Isn’t that by extension summoning Parliament. The legislator asked whether chairpersons of committees are liable for the actions of government officials.
Kadaga said that the summons were sent to her office and that she had advised the probe committee that the Chairpersons cannot be summoned as individuals. Serere District MP and current Chairperson of PAC Alice Alaso said that it was time the Speaker communicated to the Commission because they were being harassed for being involved in the UNRA mess.
The former Chairperson of PAC . Kassiano Wadri added that the committees do their work and report to Parliament and it is the Executive to carry out the recommendations in the reports.